Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, September 30 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Turkmenistan has rich reserves of hydrocarbon. While delivering them to the international markets, it contributes much in overcoming the world economic crisis, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov told the national security staff on occasion of their professional holiday.
The European project "Nabucco" is indicated in the article among other variants of Turkmen gas transportation. Its realization can begin in the next 2-3 years.
"If one considers this point of view, Turkmenistan-China and Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipelines, called "construction of the century" planned to be put into operation in December 2009, the Caspian Sea gas pipeline project, Nabucco for their further implementation, as well as preparatory work on other important energy branches demonstrate rapid advancement of our nation on the path of progressive development ", the message said.
The Turkmen President said that Turkmenistan supports "equitable and fair relations" and is "in the vanguard of countries strengthening peace in the world.
Gas pipeline project "Nabucco" worth more than €7 billion in Brussels is called the priority of EU energy policy in Brussels. Hopes for a variety of routes are connected with its realization. At present, they stretch from Russia. Future pipeline is designed to pump natural fuel from Azerbaijani and Central Asian deposits through Turkey to Europe. Moreover, Turkmenistan ranked the fourth place on natural gas reserves in 2009. Turkmenistan's participation would give an impetus to widely debated project.
For many years, Russia imported practically entire volume of export gas from Turkmenistan to resale it to Europe and the CIS markets.
The existing gas transportation main line Central Asia-Center through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was used.
Currently, old partners - Ashgabat and Moscow hold difficult negotiations to reconsider long-term contract to reduce volume of gas purchases or its cost, as demand for this type of fuel has significantly dropped due to the global crisis on international markets.
Caspian gas pipeline project remained "frozen" in this situation. It was to be built along the Caspian Sea through Kazakhstan in the same direction - to Russia
Turkmenistan starts development of other alternative routes.
Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipeline will be put into operation in December. It begins from Turkmen largest gas field - Dovletabat.
It will give an opportunity to deliver 14 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to neighboring country and up to 20 billion cubic meters in future together with the capacity of existing Korpeje-Gurtgui gas pipeline.
Moreover, another transnational pipeline - Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline is planned to be put into operation late 2009. China will be supplied with about 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually in accordance with long-term agreements during 30 years.
The protocol on acceleration of the Trans-Afghan project realization has been recently signed with Pakistan.
This pipeline's capacity is 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It has a diameter of 56 inches (1,420 mm) with a working pressure of 100 atmospheres.
Six compressor stations - from Turkmen fields to settlement Fazilka (India) on the border of Pakistan and India are planned to be constructed at 1,680 kilometer route of future gas pipeline.
The Asian Development Bank actively promotes this project.
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